Sport: Pacific Games organisers say NZ/Aus will lift standards

The 2015 Pacific Games Organising Committee says Australia has advised they will send a full compliment of athletes to compete next year in Port Moresby.

The Pacific Games Council voted in June to invite both Australia and New Zealand to participate at next year's Games in up to four sports: taekwondo, weightlifting, sailing and rugby sevens, in the first step towards an expanded Continental Games.

Port Moresby 2015 CEO Peter Stewart says Australia accepted the invitation last week while they expect to hear from New Zealand shortly.

He says the move will help to raise the standard of overall competition.

"Everybody wants to see the Pacific Games take the next steps and by including all the athletes from around the Pacific what we do is we help to raise the standard of competition everywhere but also we help to promote it throughout some very large populations that surround the Pacific in New Zealand and Australia, and we're certainly very pleased to be able to accommodate those athletes when they come".

Peter Stewart isn't sure what level of athlete Australia and New Zealand are likely to to send at this point but says for sports such as weightlifting and rugby sevens they will need to send their best if they want to compete for medals.